In the Year '13: A Tale of Mecklenburg Life

The following story, called in the original «Ut de Franzosentid», was published in 1860, and rapidly passed through several editions. It is one of a series to which Reuter has given the name of «Olle Kamellen» literally «old camomile-flowers», by which he means «old tales, old recollections, useful as homely remedies.» It is one of the most popular of his works, and perhaps also the most translatable. Hence the reason for bringing it first before the English public. The scene of the story is laid in Stavenhagen, or Stemhagen as it is called in Plattdeutsch, Reuter's native town. The characters introduced were all real people; and even their names have been retained. The story opens at the moment when the German people were at length beginning to rise against Napoleon, and it gives a vivid picture of the state of feeling which then prevailed in Germany towards the French. The Germans were in the galling position of being forced to treat the French as allies, whilst hating them with an intense and unconquerable hatred. And this hatred, wide-spread over the whole country, is shown in the expressions of detestation ever bursting forth at the mention of the French name.